Chapter 69 : Chapter 69
Chapter 69. Found It.
Hyunwoo was a Grade 1 member of Lotus with a red card.
Thanks to that, he was able to be guided directly to the branch manager, Verian, without any waiting.
As soon as Hyunwoo entered Verian's office, she greeted him with a bright smile.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of such a noble person gracing this humble place?”
“……?”
“I heard the news that you, Hyunwoo-master, are royalty.”
I did intend for the rumor to spread, but…
It was too fast.
Even for Lotus, there was no way they could have found out this quickly.
It seemed Lionel had been spreading the rumor himself.
It was just as Hyunwoo had intended.
Verian greeted him with a wide grin.
“Oh my! To keep His Highness the Prince standing, what a disloyal act……”
“……”
Wait, was she not welcoming me?
She just looked like she wanted to tease me.
Seeing her playful expression, I was sure it wasn't my imagination.
“…That's enough, Verian.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please, have a seat. For you to personally visit such a humble place in this remote region and grace us with your presence, I don't know where to put myself.”
“……”
Verian guided Hyunwoo to a seat with an elegant gesture.
This is a joke… right?
Since she was usually so serious, it was hard to tell.
I had no idea why she was being so serious even when joking.
She sat down and leisurely crossed her legs.
“So. What brings the new Champion of the Bellatus Arena to visit today?”
“Hyunwoo is sufficient.”
“Yes, Hyunwoo-nim. Was the information I gave you last time of any help?”
The last piece of information she had given him was that Modric had made contact with Champion Equitar.
“It was of great help. Thanks to it, I was able to prepare thoroughly.”
“I’m glad. That the information I gave you wasn't useless.”
“How could it be useless.”
Verian's help had been considerable during his time in the arena.
After all, Hyunwoo didn't know everything.
Recalling that fact anew, he bowed his head to her and offered his thanks.
“You have always been a great help.”
“Was I?”
“Thank you so much for everything so far.”
“By any chance, are you planning to go somewhere?”
“Pardon? …No, I am not.”
“Hmm……”
I felt a pang of guilt.
Verian was competent enough to hold the position of branch manager of Lotus.
If so, she might be able to read Hyunwoo's thoughts.
It seemed I shouldn't reveal my inner thoughts in front of her.
Hyunwoo snapped out of his useless sentimentality and got to the point.
“I want information about Van.”
“Van… isn't that your administrator, Hyunwoo-nim?”
“Yes. I need detailed information about him.”
Hyunwoo put his hand into the mana stone pouch in his coat and then paused.
‘I have to leave soon.’
No matter how many mana stones he had, it felt like it wasn't enough.
“Do you accept credit?”
“No.”
“…Really?”
Verian covered her mouth and laughed softly.
“You can borrow mana stones with your membership card, and also… Ah! Isn't there that Goblin?”
“Goblin? Are you talking about Pierre?”
“Yes. You two seem quite close. Shall I put it on that Goblin’s tab?”
“Is that possible?”
“Normally it would be impossible, but since that Goblin is showing off his friendship with you, Hyunwoo-nim, it’s more than possible.”
This bastard.
What has he been doing behind my back to get this kind of treatment at Lotus?
It seemed he had been selling my name.
Thanks to that, the decision was short.
“Please do so.”
“Then. Please wait a moment.”
Then, Verian held out one hand.
Seureureuk―
A hand holding a document emerged from thin air.
Her shadow, which he had seen before.
Verian, who received the document, handed it to Hyunwoo.
“Please check it.”
The document he received didn't contain much information about Van.
“Is this all?”
“It's a document with the basic information provided by the arena removed.”
“So that’s why there’s so little.”
“We’re not so shameless as to sell you something you already know twice.”
“Ah, yes…”
Shameless.
It was a word that would never suit Lotus.
It was just her consideration.
Hyunwoo expressed his gratitude for her thoughtfulness and carefully examined the document.
[…Van-Grogue ran away from his tribe in his childhood and became an administrator of the Bellatus Arena.]
After a normal childhood, there was nothing particularly special after the part about him suddenly running away from his tribe.
‘I thought there might be some kind of story.’
It was a complete bust.
Then again, recalling Van's simple-looking face, it didn't seem like there would be much substance.
‘But still, he’s a High Orc…’
There might be a story that even Lotus didn't know.
Hyunwoo nodded and requested the next piece of information.
“I would like to know the personal information and dormitory locations of the Gold gladiators who use swordsmanship.”
“And the payment?”
“The same way.”
This time too, Hyunwoo coolly paid with Pierre Pay.
Hyunwoo, who received the document delivered in the same procedure as before, stood up from his seat.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“No. This is sufficient.”
He planned to look over the materials on the Gold gladiators slowly.
“Umm……”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“No. That’s not it.”
“Then I will be on my way.”
“By any chance… are you planning to go on an external request from the arena?”
Meomchit―
Hyunwoo, who was about to leave, stopped.
He had a feeling.
“…What if I am planning to leave?”
“Then. You must be careful.”
“Of what?”
“The Demon World is a very dangerous place. You never know what might happen.”
“You never know what might happen…”
“If I had my way, I would tell you not to leave the arena for the time being… but if you must go out, please be fully prepared.”
With those words, Verian averted her gaze from Hyunwoo.
If he couldn't understand after she had said this much, he wasn't human.
It wasn't a warning about an unspecified threat.
It was a warning about someone who would surely target Hyunwoo if he stepped outside the arena.
There was only one person like that.
‘Baron Modric.’
His grudge with him was still uncomfortably unresolved.
There must be some other reason why Verian, who had given direct warnings before, was speaking so indirectly this time.
He had a sense of déjà vu.
This was the third warning.
Didn't they say the Korean virtue was the rule of three?
It seemed Modric, not being Korean, couldn't wait for the third time.
As Hyunwoo was leaving the room, Verian left him with another piece of advice.
“Please be careful.”
If Verian was emphasizing it this much.
It seemed.
Modric's patience had clearly run out.
***
On his way back to the dormitory, Hyunwoo thought about the warning Verian had left him.
He thought he would have given up after even Champion Equitar had failed.
It seemed Modric was more persistent than Hyunwoo had thought.
However, it wasn't a problem.
‘If I don’t go outside, what’s he going to do?’
No matter how angry he was, he wouldn't start something inside the arena.
…Right?
A sense of unease quietly raised its head, but he thought he wouldn't be that crazy.
If he were that kind of guy, Verian would have warned him more actively.
He was a guy who just needed to be dealt with before leaving anyway.
Hyunwoo put away his thoughts about Modric and looked over the document containing the Gold gladiators' personal information.
There were some who had learned 2-Star swordsmanship here and there, but most had learned 3-Star swordsmanship.
‘Who should I visit first.’
There was no need to return to the dormitory; he could just visit them one by one right away.
‘Free Sparring Pass.’
Hyunwoo, with the order he had received from Lionel in his hand, visited the nearest dormitories one by one.
***
Anyone who just showed up and asked for a fight would likely be called a madman.
That was what Hyunwoo was about to do.
Beolkeok―!
The Gold gladiator, who saw Hyunwoo open the door and enter, stuttered with a flustered expression.
“W-what is it?!”
“Come out. Let’s have a round.”
“……What?”
“Here, look. The Free Sparring Pass.”
“What is this?”
“…Can you perhaps not read?”
“This bastard—!”
The opponent, who didn't even pay attention to the ‘Free Sparring Pass’ Hyunwoo presented, rushed at him in a fit of anger.
What, I was just wasting my breath talking.
Hyunwoo realized he just had to pick a fight.
Anyway, even if he acted this recklessly, as long as he had the ‘Free Sparring Pass’, he could just insist it was a spar.
He hadn't come here just to trade fists.
Seureung―
As Hyunwoo drew Cheonbyeondo, the opponent flinched.
“…You’re crazy. Fights outside of matches are forbidden for gladiators.”
“Well, think what you want.”
Even the time spent talking felt like a waste.
He had quite a few places to make house calls.
As Hyunwoo raised his mana, the opponent also scrambled to find his sword.
When he held his sword, Hyunwoo immediately swung Cheonbyeondo.
‘Lightly.’
Kwaang―!
After clashing swords with the opponent a few times, the swordsmanship information popped up in front of his eyes.
⌜Parneon Swordsmanship (3-Star)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy with Crux Swordsmanship (3-Star): Low⌟
“A dud.”
“Stop talking nonsense and come at me!”
“I surrender.”
Hyunwoo sheathed Cheonbyeondo and raised his hands.
Since Lionel had asked, he planned to just check the swordsmanship and leave.
The opponent had a dumbfounded expression.
“…Where do you think you’re going now, you bastard! Are you mocking me!”
As the opponent, who had paused for a moment, raised his sword again, Hyunwoo held out his palm.
“By any chance, do you not even know the rules of a spar? I said I lost, didn't I?”
“Do you think I’ll just let you go if you say that now?”
Looking at the opponent blocking his way, Hyunwoo chuckled.
“I’ve already surrendered, though?”
“Who do you think you are to decide that….”
“Fights outside of matches are forbidden for gladiators. Well, I won't stop you if you want to stand on the execution platform.”
Ppudeudeuk―!
The opponent gritted his teeth at Hyunwoo, but it didn't change anything.
It seemed like an unreasonable demand, but it wasn't.
Duels between gladiators outside of matches were a serious crime punishable by death.
There was no way to counter Hyunwoo's unreasonable demand of presenting a never-before-seen order called a ‘Free Sparring Pass’.
Hyunwoo, who had proudly declared his defeat, kicked open the opponent's dormitory and left.
‘Next is…’
There were still many places to visit, so he had to move diligently.
***
As Hyunwoo stirred up the dormitories in the Gold District, a horde of Skeleton Soldiers rushed in.
Hyunwoo proudly presented the ‘Free Sparring Pass’ to them.
Cheok―
The Skeleton Soldiers who served as guards throughout the arena were not simple undead.
Having read the mana contained in the order, they obediently retreated.
The onlookers who had expected Hyunwoo's neck to be cut quickly fled and locked their dormitory doors.
They had realized it too.
That a foul-tempered outlaw had been born in the Gold District.
After that, he examined many gladiators' swordsmanship, but there was nothing worth using.
⌜Carmen Swordsmanship (3-Star)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy: Low⌟
⌜Prukas Swordsmanship (3-Star)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy: Medium⌟
Occasionally, there was a swordsmanship with ‘Medium’ synergy, but he grew greedy.
Hyunwoo became more and more skilled as he visited the dormitories.
First, he kicks open the door.
Kwaang―!
“W-what!”
Before the flustered opponent can speak, he thrusts his sword at them.
Then, the spar(?) naturally began.
Clash swords a few times to check the swordsmanship… Huh?
⌜Modris Swordsmanship (3-Star)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy: High⌟
“Found it!”
He had finally found a swordsmanship with ‘High’ synthesis synergy.
However, there was a problem.
⌜Swordsmanship Copy Condition 1. Affinity ― 65 or higher.⌟
⌜Condition not met.⌟
⌜Swordsmanship Copy Condition 2. Aspiration ― Reign as the Demon King of the Demon World.⌟
⌜Condition not met.⌟
The ‘aspiration’ condition was of a type that was eternally impossible to achieve.
“…This guy’s a complete psycho.”
“Who’s this madman calling who a…!”
“I surrender.”
“……?”
Even if he managed to raise the affinity somehow, he couldn't grant an aspiration like making him the Demon King.
The more he looked into the conditions, the more he felt that obtaining a 3-Star swordsmanship was no easy feat.
‘This one won't work either.’
He showed the ‘Free Sparring Pass’ to the opponent's face and fled like an arrow.
If he had a problem, he could try swinging his sword outside.
Though he would die at the hands of the Skeleton Soldiers before that.
Hyunwoo, who had created an efficient sparring route(?), sighed.
“…How come there’s not a single useful one.”
At this rate, he might have to reluctantly choose a ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’ synergy.
There weren't many gladiators left now.
‘Next is… a familiar face?’
While looking through the gladiators' personal information, he found a familiar face.
After a moment of thought, he remembered.
One of the Gold gladiators who had survived until the end in the special match.
He remembered him for his unique swordsmanship.
Hyunwoo, who had arrived in front of his dormitory, kicked open the door and thrust his sword.
Kwaang―!
“Oh.”
The opponent calmly deployed a sword-screen and easily blocked Hyunwoo's sword.
“What do you mean, ‘oh’, you goddamn bastard!”
He didn't give the opponent a chance to counterattack.
At the swordsmanship Hyunwoo unleashed in succession, the opponent, instead of getting angry, focused on deploying his sword-screen again.
And the swordsmanship that appeared.
⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)⌟
⌜Synthesis Synergy: High⌟
The first stage was a pass.
It was still too early to get his hopes up.
Because there was one more procedure left.
⌜Swordsmanship Copy Condition 2. Aspiration ― A free body.⌟
Having confirmed the copy condition, Hyunwoo was finally able to grin.
“Found it.”